Short Bus Ice Cream makes a debut on the streets
Local residents start a new business in Vermont
By Caitlyn Kelleher JOURNAL REPORTER

Keegan Flynn and Ian Frish are spending their summer selling ice cream as they start their own business in Vermont. COURTESY PHOTO

Keegan Flynn and Ian Frisch took a new approach to finding a summer job this year … they started their own business.

The students at Champlain College in Burlington, Vt., bought a bus and started an ice cream business, called Short Bus Ice Cream.

"We were just trying to think of a good way to make money," Flynn said.

"We found a bus for $1,000 for online and we drove down to Staten Island to get it," Flynn described. "It turned out to be legit so we bought."

The 2005 Oakmont graduates did most of the work on the bus themselves although they turned to professionals to have the alternator replaces and some other repairs made to the system.

It took them about a week to paint the bus, a week to get the freezer to run and another week or so to get everything just right.

They have created a route that runs between Burlington and South Burlington.

"We try to get every neighborhood hod we do twice a week. It is really random," he said.

They buy Good Humor novelty items to sell as well as Ben and Jerry's ice cream and a creation of their own, The Frozen Bouke, an ice cream sandwich made with graham crackers.

Flynn said the biggest seller is probably Ben and Jerry's Half-baked. Flynn said his ice cream consumption has increased this summer.

"I probably eat a couple every day and that is a lot more then I would eat if I didn't have (the business)," he said.

The ice cream entrepreneurs say this is their first business venture, but they report that they are turning a profit from their white and purple bus, which is adorned with colorful stickers.

"It's paid the rent for both of us," says Flynn.

Flynn said the worst part of the job is "running into the competition in the neighborhoods."

There is another ice cream truck company in Burlington, which is more established and have three or four trucks working the area. But Flynn said their new company is holding its own.

He said he enjoys talking with all of the different people as they buy their ice creams.

Both men are 20 years old. Flynn is a business major from Ashburnham and Frisch is a professional writing major from Westminster.

The pair are members of Champlain College's BYOBiz Entrepreneur Club, which is a program for students who want to build a business while they earn a degree.

Flynn's parents, Jim and Linda, live in Athol and Frisch's mother, Pam Frisch, lives in Westminster.

"My parents love (the business)," Flynn said. "They are very enthusiastic and supportive."

Frish's mom actually lent the pair some of the money to help start the business.

If area residents are traveling to Vermont this summer they can stop by the Short Bus Ice Cream for a treat at the Vermont Roots Reggae Fest on Aug. 23 to 26, Burton Snowboards Tent Sale on Aug. 3 to 5, Lew-au II festival, and Champlain College Orientation on Aug. 31 to Sept. 3.

The pair hopes to keep the bus running through October but admits that the weather may change their plans. But plans are something they are making, as they hope to run the bus again next year.

Flynn said they hope to have two or three more buses driving around Burlington.

"It's the best job I've ever had," Flynn said.